Books & Spoons Review For Tasty Book Tours with: LAID OUT by Sidney Halston

24/8/2015

Laid Out
Worth the Fight # 4
By: Sidney Halston
Releasing August 18, 2015
Loveswept

Perfect for fans of Monica Murphy and Cecy Robson, Sidney Halston’s scorching new MMA romance proves there are no holds barred when it comes to seduction.

Growing up an Army brat, Violet Channing could never meet her dad’s high expectations. But in the eyes of her best friend, she could do no wrong. He even insisted that he should be her first kiss. Now Cain Sorensen is all grown up, hardened by years in special ops and always looking for a good fight. Tall, with striking blue eyes and impossibly blond hair, he’s a modern-day Viking warrior. Of course, Violet’s all grown up, too, and she’s ready to surrender to his every command.

Cain knows he’s bad for Violet. His work is dangerous, and his hobbies are downright deadly. As a private mercenary and a mixed martial arts fighter, he could never let such an innocent soul into his world. And yet his most grueling combat training is no match for Violet’s killer curves, hot touch, and suggestive glances. Now all of Cain’s most explosive fantasies are coming true—but once they cross the line between friends and lovers, there’s no turning back.

I have a love/hate relationship with this story. Might sound a bit strong, but hear me out.
I loved the characters, they are well thought out, the author showed how they grew as people, how they worked on their numerous issues, and how they felt deeply, intensely, and thoroughly.
I loved Cain and Violet, both as individuals and together. They have so much history, like only people growing up together can have. He had always been her hero, fighting for her since a kid to protect her. Everything he had done in his life, has somehow been connected to her. He was her first kiss, a kiss that changed them both. They have so much fire in between them, the chemistry is burning hot, the feelings they have for each other are like lava. When Cain starts to give her dating lessons, things get complicated.
Because originally, it wasn't just Cain and Violet growing up together, there was also Jeremy. The man Violet was engaged to, before he died in the war, Cain's best friend. And that brought lots of complications, issues, and hurt between Violet and Cain.
The pain, sorrow, and damage that was done to their relationship, by mixed messages, leaving when things got difficult, and by being a jerk, I hated it. Cause it went on and on. It seemed like they were stuck in this behavioral model, and couldn't get out of it. It is obvious that they love each other, the feelings are palpable on every page. But the communication between them, and not just from Cain, is lacking, to say it mildly, and the pain that cost is agonizing. And to top it off, Cain is using illegal fighting as an excuse to get rid of the frustration, guilt, and anger he has, creating dangerous situations.
I got emotionally invested in these characters, I felt for them, their joy, love, and the deep pain they cause for each other. I was a blubbering mess towards the end, when it seems everything is lost, and that is why I have such a strong investment in the story, that I actually have a love/hate relationship with it. But the author brilliantly gives the characters the keys to their believable HEA, with an epilogue that leaves the reader thirsting for the next story in the series
~ Five Spoons!

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Sidney Halston lives her life by one simple rule: “Just do it.” And that’s exactly what she did. At the age of thirty, having never written anything other than a legal brief, she picked up a pen for the first time to pursue her dream of becoming an author. That first stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Halston lives in South Florida with her husband and children.

Author Links: Facebook | Twitter | Website | GoodReads

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